alternatives to homework english

Alternatives to Homework

ENGLISH Class–VII

114

S. No.

Topic Activity Time Skills Enhanced / Learning Outcomes

1. Three Questions 1. Being Human

For classroom discussion:

Students will be given a picture and asked to find out the answers of the questions given below:

1. What, do you think, the child is doing?

2. Why, do you think, he/she is doing it?

3. What, do you think, they must have felt:

a) the child

b) the old lady

Home Task:

The students will be asked to use their observations to prepare for a classroom discussion on the theme 'Being Human'.

10 minutes

15 minutes

Oratory skills

Self awareness

The value of helping others

Awareness of road safety rules

Compassion

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S. No.


2. 3 C's in decision making

Classroom discussion

Following situation is explained to the students:

Junior and senior students of the school travel in the same school bus. While travelling, the seniors bully the juniors and occupy their seats.

(The teacher will tell the students to apply 3C's: Challenge, Choices and Consequences to solve the problem.)

Home Task:

The students will be asked to write down the various choices that they have, as juniors, in the given situation, and their consequences.

Then, they will be asked to select the option they think is the best, and write a few sentences giving reasons for their choice.

10 minutes

25 minutes

Decision making skills

Analytical skills

Imagination

Expression of thoughts

Problem solving

They will be able to understand P.O.W.E.R. (Problem, Options, Weigh, Elect and Reflect) model for decision making.

3. Curiosity - The wick in the candle

Students will frame 5 questions, the answers of which they are curious to know from their elders.

Then they will put the questions to their elders and check whether their answers satisfy their curiosity or not. If not, then why not?

(They will share their questions and answers in the class.)

20 minutes Curiosity will be aroused

Creative thinking skills will be developed

Interpersonal relationship

2. A Gift of Chappals 1. Obedience with exactness

Home Task I:

25 minutes

An attitude of care and compassion

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S. No.


Students will be asked to write a diary about an incident when they were disrespectful and disobedient to someone.

2. Classroom Discussion

Classroom discussion will be held wherein the teacher will ask the students to reflect on the following points:

Why did it happen? Was it the right thing to do? What were the consequences? How did it make the other person feel? Will they repeat their behaviour? Why or why not? What did they learn from the experience?

Home Task II:

3. Based on the above discussion, students will be asked to draw inference from the discussion in the form of a paragraph.

20 (10+10) minutes

Sensitization towards the needy

Narration using direct speech

Imagination

Expression

2. Cheer up someone's world

The teacher will ask the students to look for poems on a similar theme. For Example:

– Somebody's Mother (Mary Dow Brine)

– Sympathy (Charles Mackey)

They will also compose their own jingles on the theme 'The pleasure of helping others'.

20 minutes Self awareness

Comprehension of the poem

Creative thinking skills

Empathy

Creativity

Originality

3. Gopal and the Hilsa fish

1. Laughter is the best medicine

The teacher will give slips of crazy situations to the students in the class.

2 days Creative thinking

Aesthetic skills

Expression of thoughts

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S. No.


They will be asked to prepare a comic strip at home based on the situation mentioned in their slip.

Out-of-box thinking

2. I'm not crazy; I'm special

The students will be asked to write an informal letter to their friend and narrate an incident when they did something crazy and were laughed at by others, the consequences that they faced and if they would like to repeat the act.

20 minutes Creative thinking

Communication

Expression of thought

Knowledge of format

3. I'm stronger than my challenges

Students will be asked to complete the story from the given outline:

One day I went to a bank with my father. I saw two armed men entering ..........................

........................................................................

........................................................................

20 minutes Expression

Imagination

Creativity

Decision making

4. The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom

1. Rendezvous

The students will be asked to interview a person who, according to them, is very kind. They have to frame a questionaire and get the answers.

30 minutes Communication skills

Empathy

Interpersonal Skills

Kindness

Politeness

2. Don't be jealous

God has made all of us differently. We are different in our physical appearance, talents, abilities, attitude etc. Some people have lack of self confidence and

10 minutes Expression of thought

Creativity

Originality

Awareness and managing of

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S. No.


become jealous of others. Do you think it is right to be jealous? Why or why not?

Analyse one or more such factors that lead to jealousy. Discuss among the family, obtain response from your class fellows and make a collage of the same

emotions

5. Quality 1. Ad Mania

Students will prepare a print advertisement for any one product of their choice, stressing on its quality.

[Hint: The teacher can ask the students to choose from various stationery items, chocolates or things of everyday use]

Clues:

1. Title

2. Features of the product (Models)

3. Highlights

4. Price range

5. Availability

20 minutes Creative thinking

Aesthetic skills

Imagination

Presentation

2. Follow me

Big companies have been successful to rope in celebrities to endorse their brands. Choose a product, research on its advertising campaign. Prepare a write up of about 50-60 words, with a caption and a picture for your class display board.

25 minutes Awareness

Decision making

Presentation

3. Harbinger of Change

The students will be asked to consider the following situation.

20 minutes Empathy

Problem solving

Creative thinking

119

S. No.


You are worried seeing a sharp rise in the number of accidents owing to road rage, negligence of the traffic rules or rash driving. Prepare a two minute script of a radio show to create awareness among the masses on this issue.

Essentials of a radio script:

1. Selection of theme

2. Selection of characters

3. Dialogues

4. Jingles (if required)

Critical thinking

Imagination

Expression

6. Expert Detectives 1. Let's create something

The students will be asked to collect pictures and information about famous personalities, known for their service to mankind or their nations. They will be asked to write a biographical paragraph which should include:

1. Introduction

2. Childhood

3. Achievements

4. His/her contribution to society.

20 minutes spread to

2 days

Information of the great personalities who worked for their nation.

Creativity

Presentation

Aesthetic skills

2. Being Rational

Classroom discussion:

The teacher will show the given picture and ask the following question:

Look at the picture. Which profession does it remind you?

15 minutes Rational thinking skills

Presentation

Vocabulary

120

S. No.


Home task:

The students will be asked to write the name of their favourite detective and make a web chart of the qualities that they think a detective should possess.

3. Sharing an Incident

The students will be asked to imagine a situation wherein they are prejudiced against somebody or become a victim of prejudice. They will be asked to write a diary entry expressing their feelings and emotions experienced during the situation.


Vocabulary

Creativity

Coherence and organization of ideas

Empathy

4. Referring a Dictionary

The students will be given the following words. They would be asked to look up the meaning and provide a synonym for each word:

i) Shout _____Yell_____

ii) Agile _____________

iii) Destroy _____________

20 minutes Vocabulary

Research and Reference

121

S. No.


iv) Sympathize _____________

v) Calm _____________

vi) Impulsive _____________

vii) Furious _____________

viii) Commence _____________

ix) Gloomy _____________

7. The Invention of Vita-Wonk

1. Understanding changes

Classroom discussion:

The students will be asked the following questions:

1. Have you ever wanted to grow old, quickly? Why/Why not?

Home Task:

1. The students will be asked to make a sketch of themselves imagining how they would look when they turn 50.

2. They will be asked to make a list of the activities that they would like to do at that age.

20 minutes Awareness of the changes in appearance taking place in a human body with passage of time

Imagination

Creative thinking

Presentation

Aesthetic skills

2. Know your elders

1. The students will be asked to make a family tree in their note book, pasting pictures of each member, with the picture of the oldest member being on the top.

2. They will be asked to write a 'Thank you

message' for an elderly member of their family. They should use appropriate vocabulary for expressing gratitude.

20 minutes Family bonding will be strengthened

Awareness about their responsibilities towards the elderly people of their family

Presentation

Expression

122

S. No.


3. Being Human

The students will be asked to prepare a one minute speech to be delivered in the morning assembly about the consequences of using animals for experiments.

20 minutes Awareness about the importance of existence of biodiversity

Compassion towards animals

Analytical thinking

Expression

Observation

Creativity

Logical and critical thinking

8. Fire: Friend and Foe

1. Fire Act

Description:

The students will be asked to design a poster on 'Fire Safety and Alertness'.

20 minutes Knowledge about basic facts related to fire safety

Presentation

Creativity

2. Designing a safety pamphlet

The students will be asked to watch the following videos (ON YOUTUBE):

1. Fire Safety Measures

2. The Alarming Truth

Home Task for Students :

What did you learn from the video? Find out some do's and don'ts and safety measures that should be adopted in such a situation and design a safety pamphlet for the same.

20 minutes Imagination

Expression

Importance of being cautious and proactive

Help and compassion

4. Understanding fire

The students will be asked to prepare a flowchart

Spread over two

Enrichment of knowledge regarding the origin and

123

S. No.


describing the expansion in the uses of fire since its discovery till the present day.

days contribution of fire

Presentation

9. A Bicycle in Good Repair

1. Facing challenges

The students will be asked to imagine a situation where their bicycle broke down and a stranger came to help them. They have to design a 'Thank You' card with an appropriate message for him/her.

25 minutes Creativity

Presentation

The value of being helpful

Gratefulness

2. Go green... Let's be environment friendly

Use of bicycles is one of the environment friendly modes of transport. Collect information about environment friendly processes. Which of these can be used by the people in your locality? What are the other modes of transport or ways that may be adopted to reduce air pollution? Design a poster on any one environmental friendly process.

20 minutes Sensitivity towards environment

Presentation

Creativity

Aesthetic Skills

3. Let's write

The students will be asked to attempt the following questions:

Imagine you are the writer of the lesson 'A Bicycle in Good Repair'. Write a letter to your mother telling her about the incident. You may include the following:

What had happened?

How were you helped?

Your feelings about your friend.

20 minutes Knowledge about the advantages of riding bicycles.

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Reasoning skills

124

S. No.


10. The Story of Cricket

1. Describing a person

The students will be asked to make a collage on the well-known cricket players of the world and write a paragraph on their favorite cricketer.

20 minutes Presentation

Expression

Aesthetic Skills

2. Let's be sporty

You recently saw a cricket match on T.V. which you thoroughly enjoyed. Write a report on the same in about 150-200 words. Your report should include:

1. Participants

2. Venue

3. Details of the match-toss, batting, fielding, result etc.


Expression

Organization of Ideas

3. Quote a sport

Read articles on importance of sports and sportsmanship and draft a quote promoting sports

20 minutes Thinking skills

Expression

4. Slogan writing

The students have to create a slogan on the importance of sports in their life.


Originality

Precision in language

Value of sports

5. Creating a comic book

The students will be asked to create a short comic book with a story that they find funny. Then, they will be encouraged to pass their comic book to others in the class to read.

[Hint: The teacher can give the following tips on

40 minutes spread to two days

Critical thinking

Reasoning skills

Logical skills

Presentation

Expression

125

S. No.


how to make a comic book.]

a) Choose a funny story and write it in the form of short, two line dialogues.

b) Sketch the main characters. Colour the sketches.

c) Illustrate the two line dialogues as frames. Make four frames on a page.

d) Write a line to link two frames where needed.

e) Draw bubbles to write the dialogues and write the dialogues in the bubbles.

f) Create an attractive cover.

Narration

Creativity

Artistic skills

Interdisciplinary with Maths

6. Measurement

What is generally the shape of a cricket field? Identify the shape of the pitch and write down its dimensions?

Draw the picture of the entire cricket field.

20 minutes Critical Thinking

Reasoning

Logical skills

Creativity

Poem–1: The Squirrel

Activity–1 : Story of a Squirrel

Compose a story on squirrel and present it along with colourful pictures of squirrel.


Creative writing

Presentation

Critical thinking

Activity–2 : Role of animals in producing new plants

Squirrels play a crucial role in producing new plants. Find out how. Collect information about other animal/s (if any) that play a role in a similar way, in producing new plants.

20 minutes Critical thinking

Exploration

126

S. No.


Poem–2: The Rebel Activity: Tongue twister

The students will be asked to create a tongue twister with the word 'Rebel'. You may follow the example given below:

Choose a name: The best letters for a name begin with B, D, L, M, P, S or T - or your child may like to choose his own name, e.g. Barry

What did the person do? It must begin with the letter of her name, e.g. Baked bread.

Where is the person? It must begin with the letter of her name, e.g. Belinda's bakery.

When did this activity occur? It must begin with the letter of her name e.g. Before bedtime.

Why did this activity happen? It must begin with the letter of her name, e.g. Brother made him.

String all the words together and you will end up with your very own tongue twister!

Barry baked bread at Belinda's Bakery before bedtime because brother made him.

20–25 minutes

Originality

Creativity

Application of poetic devices (Alliteration)

Aesthetic skills

Understanding of preposition

Presentation

Poem–3: The Shed Useful Sheds

In villages, there are houses having sheds used for various purposes. Identify such sheds and describe them. Use pictures, if required.

20 minutes Observation

Identification

Creativity

Expression

Poem–4: Chivvy Activity: Let's Transform

The students will be asked to pick out any five commands from the poem and transform them into

30 minutes Comprehension of the poem

127

S. No.


other kinds of sentences, namely, assertive, interrogative and exclamatory.

Poem–5: Trees Activity: Making Mind Map

The students will be asked to read the given samples and create a mind map, taking the key words from them.


Observation

Poem–6: Mystery of the Talking Fan

Activity: Sound Bites

The students will be asked to find words associated with the sound made by the following: Utensils, leaves, birds, train, water, bells.

[Hint: The teacher can give a few examples such as babies - babble, bangles - tinkle].

20–25 minutes

Vocabulary

Knowledge of rhyming words

Poem–7: Dad and the Cat and the Tree

Activity: Rhyming Words

The students will be asked to pick out any six pairs of rhyming words from the poem and add at least one more word to each pair.


Observation

Awareness of nature

Grammatical skills

Application skills

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S. No.


Poem–8: Meadow Surprises

Activity: Objects Perspective

Choose any one object from nature and write a 3 paragraph essay from the perspective of that object. Your essay should include:

1. Interesting introduction.

2. Daily routine of the object.

3. How does it feel about its life?

You may write on trees, mountains, grass etc.

15 minutes Observation

Critical thinking

Imaginations

Expression

Poem–9: Garden Snake

Activity: Helping Hands

The students will be asked to identify any five animals / insects that they come across regularly and mention the ways in which they are useful to human beings.


Presentation

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